Missouri quarterback Connor Bazelak had a breakout year as a redshirt freshman in 2020. The quarterback came out of nowhere to lead the Tigers to a 5-5 record and was named SEC co-Freshman of the Year.

There are high expectations for Bazelak and the Tigers in 2021. If he is to become a star in the SEC, there are a few things he will need to accomplish to take that next step.

1. Beat ranked teams

If Bazelak wants to be a star in this conference, he can start by knocking off a few ranked teams. Mizzou went 1-4 against ranked teams in 2020. In the 4 losses, Bazelak didn’t throw a TD pass and was picked off twice. The offense never reached 20 points.

He and the Tigers will have plenty of opportunities to make amends this season.

Two of Mizzou’s biggest games will come against SEC West opponent No. 6 Texas A &M on Oct. 16, and SEC East favorite, No. 5 Georgia on Nov. 8.

Knocking off either team, especially Georgia, would not only make some noise but would create chaos in college football. Georgia is a threat to win the national championship.

Knocking off the Dawgs would elevate Bazelak’s status quickly, just ask former Texas A&M quarterback and Heisman winner Johnny Manziel.

When Manziel knocked off Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 2012, he went from emerging redshirt freshman sensation to “Johnny Football.” The same could happen to Bazelak if he beats Georgia.

2. Crack 3,000 yards, 25 TDs

Bazelak has already won SEC Freshman of the Year in 2020, so the next step would be to put up incredible numbers. Last year, Bazelak threw for 2,366 yards and 7 touchdowns.

For comparison’s sake, Drew Lock threw 4 TD passes in 263 attempts as a freshman in 2015. Lock increased his TD total to 23 in his second season as Mizzou’s starter in 2016, and then set the SEC record for TD throws (44) as a junior. (LSU’s Joe Burrow broke that record in 2019.)

Can Bazelak make a similar jump in his second year as a full-time starter?

If he wants to put up bigger numbers, he needs to take more chances and cut down on mistakes. As a 3rd-year sophomore — and 2nd year in Eli Drinkwitz’s QB-friendly offense — he should be able to do that.

One number to watch is Bazelak’s yards-per-attempt. It was just 7.3 last season. That ranked 7th among qualified SEC QBs — and was lower than Stetson Bennett.

Accuracy isn’t the issue. Bazelak completed 67.3% of his passes last season, but there definitely is a need to stretch the field.

Mizzou’s receivers obviously played a part in this, but Bazelak completed just 7 passes last season that gained 30 or more yards. Georgia’s JT Daniels doubled that output in just 4 games. Kyle Trask led the SEC with 35 such completions.

If Bazelak does that, he will be hard to ignore nationally.

3. Lead Mizzou to a major bowl

The Tigers have had success in the SEC, going to the SEC Championship Game in 2013 and 2014. That also was the last time they won a bowl game or appeared in a major bowl. Lock led the Tigers to the Texas Bowl and Liberty Bowl in 2017 and 2018. They lost both games.

Bazelak could add to his Mizzou legacy if he were to lead Mizzou to a major bowl.

The Tigers aren’t Vanderbilt; they legitimately could have a very good team this year despite the tough schedule. Yes, SEC media picked the Tigers to finish 4th in the SEC East. ESPN’s FPI projects the Tigers to finish 6-6, but Bazelak could surpass those modest expectations if he can lead road upsets at Kentucky and Arkansas. FPI also has Mizzou as the underdog at Boston College.

The college football world took notice when the Tigers knocked off LSU last season in Columbia. (LSU was ranked at the time, but never again that season.) Not surprisingly, Bazelak had a career-day: 406 yards, 4 TDs, 11.9 yards per attempt.

Asking him to repeat that day is unfair, but making a Lock-like leap in his second season as the starter is reasonable. And it’s exactly what this Mizzou offense needs.